Former Spartan Tyler Blackwood Signs With English Premier League Team

QUEENS PARK, England - Former University of Tampa men's soccer player Tyler Blackwood has agreed to a professional contract with the Queens Park Rangers of the English Premier League.

Blackwood played for the Spartans from 2012-13, and concluded his collegiate career at the University of South Florida in 2014. He previously played for Northampton and Barnet.

Blackwood, 23, has agreed a one-year contract after a successful trial period at Loftus Road. The London-born forward was a two-time Sunshine State Conference Offensive Player of the Year while playing at UT.

He played in 33 games with the Spartans, scoring 24 goals with eight assists. He also connected on eight game-winning goals and ranks fourth in UT history in goals per game, shots on goal and game-winning goals.

"I'm a striker who likes to play on the shoulder of the last man, use my pace, and I'm a goalscorer," he told the club's website.

"My personal target this season is to get league appearances. I know I'm good enough, but I have to prove to the manager and the rest of the team that I deserve to be involved."

Blackwood is the latest of several former Spartans to find success at the professional level. Most notably, alums Pascal Millien and Ryan Thompson are both competing in the Gold Cup for Haiti and Jamaica respectively.